Needy families, persons with disabilities and societies working in the community are to be given reconditioned computers for a nominal price, the Government has announced.

The Minister for Investment, Industry and Information Technology, Austin Gatt, said that this initiative, called SmartStart, fell within the government's Smart Island vision for widespread use of information technology. This initiative came about as the Government's civil service is replacing its computers by leasing new ones. Around 10,000 Pentium 3 and Pentium 4 computers which are still suitable for practical and domestic purposes will be reconditioned and given to those who cannot afford to buy computers for a nominal price.

Pentium 3 computers will be sold for €130 while the Pentium 4 for ? 180. The package includes a tower and monitor or laptop with licensed operating systems. The software will be Microsoft Office 2003 and Microsoft Encarta.

Persons who receive social or unemployment benefit, persons with disability registered with the National Commission, Persons with Disability and NGOs are eligible for this scheme.

Registration can be made on forms which will be available from Maltapost branches on Wednesday through until the end of March.

It was specified that families can only be given one computer and NGOs can receive up to two. Additionally, Minister Gatt said that persons who are not able to pay the nominal price can apply in instalments by having €4 deducted from their social services payments without any interest charges.